More car kilometres covered by over-65s

Altogether, car drivers covered almost 95 billion kilometres on Dutch roads, nearly 6 billion more than in 2000. In 2005, over-65s travelled 1 billion kilometres more by car than in 2000, an increase by 20 percent.

More older people, higher daily average

The overall distance covered by people over the age of 65 is partly caused by an increase in the number of older people and partly by an increase in the daily distance covered by older motorists.

Car kilometres covered by age, 2005

Over-65s travel more than 8 kilometres by car each day

The daily distance travelled by car per person over the age of 65 is below average for all ages. In 2005, the average Dutch motorist travelled 16 kilometres by car each day, a 3 percent increase on 2000. Over-65s covered more than 8 kilometres on a daily basis, i.e. 11 percent more than in 2005.

Distance covered by car, 2005

Mainly for recreational purposes

Although older people use their cars less frequently, the car remains the main means of transport for them. Car kilometres make up three-quarters of the total annual distance covered.

Older people only rarely use their cars as driver or passenger to go to work or for business purposes. In nearly fifty percent of cases, older people use their cars to visit or stay with friends, acquaintances, etc. or for recreational purposes like going for a drive, visiting or participating in sports activities or going out. One in three times, older people use their cars to go shopping.

Older motorists mostly men

More men than women have driving licences. Seven in every ten over-65 males own a car. They spend two-thirds of the total distance travelled by car behind the wheel, one tenth in a passenger seat.

More than two out of every ten women over 65 own a car. They cover one fifth of the total annual distance in the driving seat and nearly half in a passenger seat.

Car kilometres covered by gender, 2005

Hermine Molnár